Ferguson wins story award; Terrill photo

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FILE - In this July 7, 2012 file photo, a reveler is tossed by a Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch fighting bull during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain. The photo was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors as best sports action photo of 2012 at their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza, File)

FILE - In this July 16, 2012, file photo, U.S. Marine Sgt. Zachary Stinson, from Chambersburg, Pa., uses his arms to stand next to United States guard Kobe Bryant for the national anthem at an Olympic exhibition basketball game with Brazil in Washington. The photo was honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors as the best sports feature photo of 2012 at their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2012, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard follows through on a dunk during the Lakers' NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer Mark J. Terrill which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2012 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terill, File)

FILE - In this June 25, 2012, file photo, Michael Phelps dives at the start in the men's 400-meter individual medley final at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials in Omaha, Neb. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer Mark J. Terrill which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2012 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2012, file photo, Leo Santa Cruz, right, connects with Victor Zaleta during their IBF bantamweight title bout in Los Angeles. Santa Cruz knocked out Zaleta in the ninth round. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer Mark J. Terrill which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2012 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - In this May 2, 2012, file photo, Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver is doused with beer by teammates after pitching a a no-hitter in a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Anaheim, Calif. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer Mark J. Terrill which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2012 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2012, file photo, Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson of Sweden reacts during the second half of the MLS Cup soccer match against the Houston Dynamo in Carson, Calif. The photo was part of a series of images by photographer Mark J. Terrill which won the Thomas V. diLustro best portfolio award for 2012 given out by the Associated Press Sports Editors during their annual winter meeting. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Golf writer Doug Ferguson won story of the year honors and national writer Eddie Pells garnered two awards in the annual writing contest for AP staffers judged by Associated Press Sports Editors at their winter meeting.

Ferguson won for his story on Augusta National inviting women to become members for the first time since the club was founded in 1932.

Pells won the Grimsley Award for outstanding body of work and also took best feature honors with a story on equestrian rider Boyd Martin, his horse Neville Bardors and their dreams of the London Olympics.

Other contest winners included sports writer Howard Fendrich, deadline writing, for his story on Usain Bolt running the anchor leg of the 4x100-meter relay at the London Olympics, capturing his third gold medal in three events. Fendrich also shared enterprise writing honors with national writers Nancy Armour and Martha Irvine for their story on long-term effects of NFL concussions, told through the perspective of Tony Dorsett and others.

The Associated Press contest chair, Garry D. Howard, editor in chief of The Sporting News, praised Ferguson's Augusta story on the admission of Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.

"Doug Ferguson remains one of my favorite writers and his piece on Augusta National finally admitting women took top honors for Story of the Year, based mainly on the strength of Ferguson's reporting and his touch," Howard said. "Every member of the committee, which included Phil Kaplan of the Knoxville News and Izzy Gould of Alabama Media Group, thought it was clearly the strongest piece in this category."

Pells' body of work included his Martin feature, a profile on Bolt and a takeout on Tim Tebow.

"Eddie Pells' entries in the Will Grimsley Body of Work category were tremendous, including his trek back to Kingston, Jamaica, to find out what makes Olympic champion Usain Bolt tick," Howard said. "His entry on Boyd Martin, a horseman who moved from Australia to the U.S. to further his Olympic dream, should be made into movie; it was that touching."

Fendrich, Armour and Irvine's enterprise efforts focused on the on-going concussion issue in the NFL. Judges praised their work for the variety of voices they included.

"The Hardest Hit, written by Armour, Fendrich and Irvine, was the epitome of great enterprise work and former Dallas Cowboys great Tony Dorsett's voice makes the story so impactful," Howard said. "It definitely gives everyone a clear picture on the dangers awaiting NFL players who retire with multiple injuries, including concussions."

Terrill, a photographer based in Los Angeles, won the AP's Thomas V. diLustro award for best portfolio with a package that included the Olympics, NBA, MLB, NHL, swimming and diving.

Brandon, based in Washington, D.C., captured the sports feature photo award with his shot of U.S. Marine Sgt. Zachary Stinson, a double amputee from Chambersburg, Pa., using his arms to snap to attention next to Team USA star Kobe Bryant for the playing of the national anthem before an Olympic exhibition basketball game against Brazil.

Madrid-based Ochoa de Olza won best action photo for his shot of a reveler being tossed by a Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch fighting bull during the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain. The judges unanimously said it was the No. 1 individual photo they reviewed and that the shot of "near death" jumped out at them.

Winners will be honored at the organization's annual convention in June in Detroit.